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United Airlines gives to charity in guitar gaffe

Dave Carroll is getting ready to sing a happy tune.

A broken guitar is turning out to be a major break for Halifax musician Dave Carroll. Carroll has become an Internet sensation after posting a revenge song on YouTube about United Airlines' baggage handlers breaking his guitar during a flight in the United States. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Sat., July 11, 2009

HALIFAX – Dave Carroll is getting ready to sing a happy tune.

United Airlines, the company whose customer service prompted the musician to write a song that's garnered worldwide attention, has agreed to make a donation to charity to make up for its mistakes.

"United will donate $3,000 to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz for music education for kids," a spokeswoman said yesterday.

Carroll had spent several months dealing trying to get United Airlines to reimburse the $1,200 he paid to repair a $3,500 Taylor acoustic guitar damaged on a flight to Nebraska in March 2008.

He had requested that United direct any compensation to charity.

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"I think it's pretty great and a show of good faith to help other people," Carroll said before performing with his band, Sons of Maxwell, in Arichat, N.S.

The airline's change of heart came after "United Breaks Guitars" appeared on YouTube this week, gathering 1.5 million hits by Friday night and coverage on CNN.

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